University of Illinois Chicago

City Transportation

UIC is easy to reach from virtually anywhere

Campus is readily accessible by car, train, plane, bus, bike or on foot. Located just west of the Loop, University of Illinois Chicago provides access to a vast network of expressways, parking, public transit and other transportation options. Take advantage of the CTA, Metra, bike and car sharing programs to save money and reduce stress.

Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways, including I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).

 

City trains and buses (CTA)

Time-lapse photo of passengers at the Chicago Red Line stop

UIC is served by both CTA buses and trains, with “L” train Blue Line (UIC-Halsted and Racine stops) and the Pink Line (Polk stop), connecting the campus with downtown Chicago, O’Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, the historic neighborhoods of Chicago, and the western suburbs.

The CTA Ventra U-PASS is available to eligible students during enrolled terms and provides unlimited use of CTA trains and buses during the semester. Distribution for new students is conducted in Student Center East.

Pace Suburban Bus transports commuters throughout the suburbs and operates an express route (Route 755 Plainfield – IMD -West Loop Express) between Plainfield, Bolingbrook and the UIC campus and Illinois Medical District during weekday rush hours.

Metra

Metra train leaving Ogilvie Station

Metra is the commuter rail agency serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in the Chicago area. It is the sister agency to the CTA, which provides mass transit rail (the “L”) and bus service to Chicago and some suburbs, and Pace, which provides bus service primarily in the suburbs.

For convenient commuting, Metra serves more than 100 communities with 241 stations on 11 lines running from Chicago’s downtown. Click the online system map to see route and station locations. Trains run frequently during weekday rush hours and about every hour during off-peak times. They also operate on weekends on most lines. Click the maps & schedules link for more information.

Biking

Young woman walking a Divvy bike at Buckingham Fountain plaza

UIC’s location puts it well within the city’s ever-expanding bike infrastructure. Our campus is recognized as a Bike Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. The BFU program acknowledges institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff, and visitors.

Don’t have a bike? No problem! Divvy is a bike sharing system that offers Chicagoans and visitors more options for getting around the city. The Divvy bike share system has thousands of bikes available and more than 580 stations across the region, and provides yet another transportation option for getting around town. UIC students, faculty and staff are eligible for a discount off annual membership costs!

To make cycling even more convenient, the CTA welcomes bicycles on trains and buses throughout the year.

Parking

Signs on the side of a parking structure

Campus Parking Services provides safe, convenient and affordable parking options for vehicles on campus:

  • Campus Parking Services issues parking spaces to students, faculty and staff members on a first-come, first-serve basis. For applications, online or pdf, visit the Campus Parking Services’ website.
  • If you carpool regularly with the same people, you can arrange to share a parking pass. For inquiries, call Campus Parking at 312-413-5800.
  • Visitors or occasional drivers are invited to use several cash lots available on campus. Find parking facilities on our interactive map.
  • Accommodations are available for those who need accessible parking options. Contact a Customer Service Office for details.

 

Car and Ride sharing

Key fob

The Zipcar car sharing service provides a convenient, affordable and reliable transportation alternative without owning a car.

It is a membership system in which users set up on-demand, short-term car rentals based on a set rate. That rate includes all transportation costs such as fuel, insurance and overnight parking fees.

UIC students, staff and faculty can become members at a special discounted rate, and take advantage of Zipcar vehicles parked on the campus. Zipcars are available throughout Chicago.

If you drive your own car, there are ways to share your car through carpooling and app-based car share technologies.

Getaround.com is a free, on demand peer-to-peer car sharing service that connects car owners with car renters allowing others to pay you to use your car when you are not.  

Pace RideShare is a free carpool and vanpool matching service for the greater Chicagoland area.

Taxis

Taxis driving on a bridge

Taxis are plentiful and offer a convenient way to get around the city. Credit cards are accepted in all cabs by city mandate. Taxi service to UIC is available from both airports.

Uber and Lyft connect riders to drivers through apps, which make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders.

For affordable connections between Chicago’s top tourist destinations, Chicago Water Taxi and Shoreline Water Taxi are a convenient transportation.

Greyhound Bus

Greyhound Bus

Greyhound is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation, serving more than 3,800 destinations across North America. The Chicago Greyhound station is on Harrison Street, just two blocks east of the campus.

Air Travel

People walking through O'Hare airport

Two major airports serve the Chicago area, O’Hare International Airport, one of the largest airports in the world, and Midway International Airport. O’Hare is located northwest of Chicago, and Midway is located on the South Side of Chicago.

There are several ways to reach campus from either airport. You may opt to take a taxi, bus, train (also known as the “L”), GO Airport Express or rental car.

GO Airport Express provides shared ride services to all downtown/suburban hotels and many businesses.

Many major car rental companies have facilities at the O’Hare and Midway Airports. Visit specific rental company websites for details.